Can I Give My Cat Evening Primrose Oil?

Evening primrose oil has a number of uses, and if you’re contemplating giving it to your cat you’re probably wondering if it’s safe, and if there’s any benefit to it.

A broader answer to the question is that cats do not respond well to essential oils such as this. It’s not something you want to get into the habit of using on your cat. The general rule of thumb is that your cat simply needs to be left alone and monitored. If their condition worsens to the point where they need to see the vet, take them in. Other than that it’s best to take a hands off approach rather than do something that might exacerbate the situation.

In this case our research didn’t turn up a single instance where it was OK to use evening primrose oil on your cat. In fact most evidence is pointing to it being toxic to your cat and something that you’d want to avoid. Aside from that it’s likely entirely unnecessary, as whatever is ailing your cat will go away on its own as long as they are getting proper nutrition.

Can I Give My Cat Evening Primrose Oil? Answer: Not Necessary

People take evening primrose oil to get more linoleic acid into their systems. But even in humans research is pretty thin as to whether or not this is an effective way to treat any sort of condition, and what little has been done doesn’t look promising. And that’s in humans who typically respond well to herbal remedies. Cats on the other hand are not known to have the same reactions as humans, and giving them concentrated doses of something like linoleic acid could do more harm than good.

If you’re concerned that your cat has a condition that could be treated with evening primrose then you should take them to the vet for a proper diagnosis and possible treatment. One common cause that owners bring up is that their cat gets dry skin. But this is not something that will be handled well by your cat, and it’s actually toxic for them so they could have a more severe reaction to the oil than to the initial itching from the dry skin.

Oenothera
This is the plant that evening primrose oil is made from. It is highly unlikely that a cat in the wild would turn to it for any sort of sustenance. Even a starving tiger or lion wouldn’t eat a flower, they’d continue their hunt for some real food so that they can go on living another day.

What You Can Do
One good habit of any pet owner is to keep a journal on your cat. Write down any unusual behavior or any problem they’re experiencing. This will help you track any condition they might have and to objectively determine if it’s getting worse or better as the days pass. Take pictures if necessary to accompany your notes.

Premium Cat Food
Instead of worrying about supplementing your cat’s diet with things like evening primrose oil you should just upgrade to a higher grade of cat food. This will give you the peace of mind knowing that your cat is getting everything it needs on a daily basis, and is not running any nutritional deficiencies. Sometimes owners go about it the hard way, skimping on the cat food they feed their cats and then trying to make up for it with supplements of all sorts that are really made for humans. The reason there aren’t a lot of supplements for cats is because they should be getting what they need from their food.

The reason humans supplement their diets so much is that it’s hard for us to get all of the nutrients we need from the food we eat. That’s why we try all sorts of things like meal replacement shakes, smoothies, meal bars, and every herb or root that looks promising. It’s because our modern world is filled with so many foods that are devoid of anything nutritious that we usually aren’t getting what we need. But cats are easy because their food is specially formulated for their needs and they don’t need to have a new meal every time they eat.

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